Dutch Design Auction: A Chair for Charity

Shortly before the 11th Dutch Design Week kicks off in Eindhoven at the end of October, Holland’s oldest auction house, Venduehuis in the Hague, will host its 1st Design Auction.

Presumably the first of many.

In addition to a general sale of design objects, prototypes and the like, the Venduehuis Design Auction also features a charity auction of specially created one-offs.

Under the title “A Chair for Charity”, thirteen leading contemporary Dutch designers have been invited to select an object from the Venduehuis’ bric-a-brac collection and reinterpret it. All the proceeds from the sale going to a charity nominated by the designer.

Which all sounds like a fantastic way to acquire some unique pieces of contemporary design, while helping a good cause rather than a design gallery.

Over the coming weeks the objects and the associated charities will be published one at a time at www.facebook.com/DesignAuction. The first to be announced is a version of the traditional Dutch “Button Chair” by Maarten Baas with the proceeds going to Amnesty International.

In addition to Maarten Baas “A Chair for Charity” features contributions from Richard Hutten, Dirk Vander Kooij, Sander Bokkinga, Ineke Hans, Kiki van Eijk, Alexander Pelikan, Ed Annink, Rutger de Regt, Tiddo de Ruiter, Onno Schelling, Ted Noten and Tejo Remy.

The auction itself takes place on Wednesday October 10th and bids can be made in person in the Hague, by telephone or online.

A Chair for Charity: "Clay Button Chair" from Maarten Baas. The original Button Chair on the left, the Clay version from Maarten Baas on the right. Proceeds go to Amnesty International, estimate ca. Euro 2,000